For the Love of Children Lynne is certified to teach Grades 1-6 in all areas but with an emphasis in social studies and in Grades K - 12 for business education. She subbed from February 16, 2002 through the 2010-2011 school year. She taught summer school yearly from 2004 to 2019. The following are a few of Lynne's favorite substitute teaching & regular teaching moments. Summer School 2012 A little girl in one of my summer school classes told me that she would not be in class the next day because she had a dentist appointment. Surprisingly, the next day she was in class and said, "My mom knew how much I wanted to come to your class today, so she cancelled it!" Summer School 2007 I was cleaning up after my enrichment class in which the students needed to create a skit to make a commercial. There were a few boxes (props) that were left, and two little girls came to my room. The littlest one asked if she could take home two of the boxes. I asked her how her mom would feel about her bringing home boxes, and she decided (of course!) that it would be okay. I let her take two smaller boxes, and on her way out the door, I heard her say to her older sister, "Just imagine how much fun we are going to have with these boxes!" Oh, the simple joys of childhood! Sometime between 2002 and 2005 A high school student, who often did not make the best life choices, was in an art class for which I was substitute teaching. Early in the class period, he shared with me that all the teachers and other adults in his life had given up on him and did not believe in him. Later in the class period, he finished his assigned artwork and asked me for ideas on what he should do next. I gave him a few ideas, and he decided to draw me a picture. He worked very diligently and then presented me with his gift. It was a pot leaf. And I had to choose how to handle it to present to him a defining moment. Instead of hollering at him or sending him to the principal, as I am sure some teachers would have done, I accepted his gift and instructed him to work on some more art but with a different theme. I then wrote him a two page letter telling him that he was very talented but needed to direct that talent in a positive manner instead of wasting it. I also told him that I believe in him and that even if he felt that all other adults had given up on him, I had not. I tried to tell him as many pieces of advice that I could, hoping it would affect him and hoping it could change the course of his life, if not now then some day. (I wish I had a copy of that letter!) When the bell rang, I told him to come over to the teacher's desk, and he told me that he needed to go or he'd be late for his next class. I reminded him that I would write him a pass and he would be excused. I handed him the letter and told him to read it to himself. I could see some tears welling in his eyes and he got a bit choked up. He told me that no one else had ever taken the time to say those things to him, and he thanked me for it. I wonder what he is doing with his life today. The moral of the story is to never fully give up on anyone, because you might be the only one who believes in that person and the one who can change his or her life for the better. 2002 It was one of my first days of substitute teaching, and a second grade girl, Courtney, came over to my desk to inquire, "How old are you?" "I am twenty-four," I replied. "Oh," Courtney said, "I don’t know how old my grandma was when she died!"

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